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From panties to penthouses at International Market Square

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January 19, 2004 // UPDATED 2:38 pm - April 24, 2007

By: Sarah McKenzie

Sarah McKenzie

The International Market Square, an historic building just north of Downtown that once housed a Munsingwear manufacturing facility, would become home to 97 condos, under a plan approved by the city's Planning Commission.

The proposal calls for converting six floors in the International Market Square's northern building to condominiums. A two-story tower, located on the building's ninth and 10th floors, would be converted into penthouses. The space is mostly vacant, according to the application filed by Market Square Real Estate, Inc.

The condos would range in price from $200,000 to $500,000, according to the

application.

The former Munsingwear complex includes five buildings, which span from Glenwood Avenue to Lyndale Avenue North on Market Street. The complex, tucked behind Interstate-94, is located near the Minneapolis Farmers' Market.

The permit, approved by the Planning Commission Jan. 13, allows the developer, Market Square Real Estate, to build a three-level parking ramp for 355 cars. A skyway would connect the ramp to the building.

The city's Heritage Preserve Commission (HPC), a citizen advisory panel to the City Council on historic districts and buildings, approved the project Dec. 9 on the condition the panel had the final say on the colors for windows, steel balconies and parking ramp exteriors. The HPC also has the final say on sign plans for the new project.

Colliers Towle Turley Martin Tucker, the Minneapolis-based commercial real estate firm, manages the building. The five-building complex is home to the Minneapolis Design Center, the Minneapolis Home Furnishings Mart and D'Amico Catering.

The historic building, which landed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, served as the Munsingwear plant from 1890 to 1915. It now features more than 135 upscale home furnishing showrooms, designer studios and architectural firms.